Iredell-Statesville Schools School & Family Magazine May 2018 | Page 16

After-School Supper Program
Making a difference in the lives of
students after school hours
This spring, Iredell-Statesville Schools
launched a new program. The After-
School Supper Program first opened at
East Iredell Elementary School on March
1, 2018, with N. B. Mills Elementary
School launching the program the next
day. On March 5th, Statesville Middle
School joined the list of schools offering
the After-School Supper Program and
Statesville High School recently became
the first high school to begin this program
on their campus launching on April 17th.
In one day, these schools have been
serving over 400 meals.
“Feeding our children is our number
one goal in the School Nutrition
Department,” explained Tina Wilson,
Director of School Nutrition. “That’s why
we began working hard to start this in our
district when we heard about the After-School Supper Program,” she added.
Sadly, throughout our schools, we see and hear stories from our students every day about their food
insecurities and not having an evening meal at home. With the addition of the After-School Supper
Program, the district now serves students at these locations three meals a day.
“Serving 3 meals a day to our children does make a difference in their lives,” stated Wilson. “We are
giving them the nutrition they need, showing we care, and therefore giving them hope.”
In order to qualify for the After-School Supper Program, schools must be 50% or higher in their free
and reduced meal percentage and offer an after-school enrichment program. These programs include
Prime Time, Good News Club, after-school
tutoring, and after-school sports teams. Currently,
Iredell-Statesville Schools has 16 sites that meet
these qualifications. Through the pilot of these
four schools, the district’s desire is to expand this
program at all 16 sites for the upcoming school year.
“Feeding hungry kids is an investment in the
future of our district,” Wilson explained. “More
importantly, it’s the right thing to do. We have to do
everything we can to stop childhood hunger, right
here where we are, in our backyard, and make more
people aware of it.”
Through the establishment of these supper
14 Iredell-Statesville School & Family